Furnace structure



0er. 29, 1934. L. s. LONGENECKER 1,977,799

FURNACE STRUCTURE Filed oct. 7, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1934. l.. s, LONGENECKER FURNACE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1930 ....Illwl l i l I @2 s mnt-5:-

l a 1 I l I l/ Y INVENTOR Oct. 23, 1934. l.. s. LoNGENEcKl-:R

FURNACE STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed oct. 7, 1950 INVENTOR Patented ct. `23, 1934 FUaNAcE s'raUc'rUm:

Levi s. Longemer, Pittsburgh, r.

Application October 7,

9 Claims.

This linvention relates to furnace structures and more particularly to an improved apron wall and nose construction therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved, eilicient, inexpensive nose structure for joining an apron wall to an adjacent furnace roof or arch. l

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tile or block for building or forming nose structures for the joining walls and roof arches of the type referred to above.

. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved suspension type apron wall for furnaces.

The invention comprises and embodies the novel arrangement of parts and details of construction illustrated in the drawings and set forth in the specification.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be apparent to those skilled in the art and will, in part, be obvious from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: y

Figure 1 is a partial view in side elevation of a furnace arch or roof and an apron wall, the adjacent ends of which are joined by a nose structure arranged and constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;`

Fig. 2 is an end view.of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, looking towards the left as viewed from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a beam and means for supporting the furnace arch or roof, the apron wall and the nose structure therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a refractory tile or block adapted for mounting at the end of the furnace arch or roof adjacent to the apron wall;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a group of .nose blocks that illl the'space between the adjecent ends of the arch or roof and the apron wall;`

Fig. 6 is a front edge .view of a block embodied in the group shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a hanger employed for supporting the blocks forming the apron wall;

Fig. 8 is a side view in elevation of the hanger shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a refractory block embodied in the lowermost course of blocks in the apron wall.

Throughout the drawings and the specification like reference characters indicate like parts.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a furnace arch 1930, Serial No. 486,945

(Cl. 11G-99) or roof 1, and an apron wall 2 are shown. The

adjacent ends of the wall and roof are' joined, to form a continuous wall, by a plurality of sector' shaped blocks 3. The furnace arch or roof 1, the

quirements. 6

The roof or arch 1 may be either of the flat or sprung arch type. However, for the purpose of iilustrating the invention' a flat suspended type of roof arch is shown.

The roof or arch 1 comprises a plurality of re` fractory tile or blocks 6 disposed in collaterally arranged courses. 'The preferred form of blocks or tile 6 may be of the type disclosed in my United States Letters Patent 1,590,363, granted June 29, 1926. I

The block or tile disclosed in the patent :referred to is provided with a. triangularly shaped projection or tongue on one face and a. correspondingly shaped depression or groove in the opposite face. The triangular projection or tongue and depression or groove are so positioned that the apexes thereof are uppermost and the bases lowermost and iiush with the bottorn or furnace chamber side of the blocks.

it is preferred to support the blocks 6 forming the roof or arch 1 in the manner disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,913,618, granted June 6, 1933. The blocks 6 are arranged in a group that is supported by a main hanger 7 from the lowermost flange of the beam 4. The hanger 7 has a hook portion 8 that hangs from one edge of the lowermost fiange of the beam 4 and an arm 9 that engages the opposite edge of this flange as at 10.

Main hanger '7 embodies a depending leg 11 of substantially T-shape that is received in a `T shaped slot 12 formed in one face of a block 6 at its upper end. The weight of the block 6 is carried by the T-shaped depending leg 11. As will be observed'from Fig. 1, the center of mass of the block 6 carried by the hanger 7 is oicenter with respect to the depending leg 11. Therefore, a turning moment is set up tending to turn the block 6 in a clockwise direction as viewed from Fig. 1. In order to off-set such turning moment, the main hanger 7 is provided with a depending leg 13 which is received in a groove 14 formed on the opposite face of block 6 at its upper end. The groove 14 in the block 6 is of such depth that the depending leg 13 is Each of the remaining blocks in the group to the left of the beam 4 is individually carried by a hanger 15.`

The hangers are so arranged that each block or tile in the group is supported by its hanger 15 from the hanger of an adjacent block.

. utilized to the fullest extent.

Hangers 15 `each have a hook portion 16 for engaging a lug 17 of an adjacent hanger 15 so as to be supported therefrom. Each hanger 15 is also provided with y'a depending leg 18y of T- shape, similar to the depending legr 12 of the main hanger "1, from which a refractory tile or block is suspended. To offset the tendency of the blocks to turn on the depending T-shaped legs 18 when supported alone from a support, each hanger 15 is provided with a relatively short depending leg 19 that is received in a recess or groove formed in the opposite face of the block at its upper end. However, in practice this tendency for turning is utilized to obtain positive engagement between the adjacent faces of the blocks so that the interlocking features thereof may be This interlocking feature, as obtained by the tongue and groove construction, is disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,590,303, granted June 29, 1926. By utilizing the tendency of the blocks to turn, to obtain positive engagement and interlocking of the blocks, an effective, tight joint is formed between the blocks forming the several courses of the roof arch.

In the assembly of the furnace roof or arch l, a main hanger 7 is attached to a block 6 and the hanger mounted on the lowermost flange of the beam 4. The manner of attaching and hanging is shown and described in my United States Patent No.'1,9l3,618, granted June 6 1933. A hanger 15 is attached to the upper end of another block 8 and hooked over an upstanding lug or boss 21 formed on the side of the main hanger containing the depending T-shaped leg 1l. In like fashion, the remaining blocks of the group to the Vleft of beam 4 are provided with a hanger 15 and successively attached to an upstanding lug 17 of an adjacent hanger until all of the blocks in the group have been mounted in place. Rows of blocks so assembled are suspended in collaterally arranged rows or courses until the roof has been completed.

A portion ofthe roof or arch 1 extending to the right of beam 4, as viewed from Fig. 1, is constructed in the same manner. As disclosed in Fig. 1, a main hanger 'l' is attached to a block 8 and suspended from the beam 4 so that this block extends to the right of the center line of the beam. Main hanger 7 is identical to hanger 'l and has been designated by a different reference character for convenience only. Because of the particular formof roof construction shown in Fig. 1, it happens that the block, to be suspended by a hanger from the hanger 7', forms the end of the roof arch which is adjacent to the lowermost end of the apron wall. Since the nose blocks 3 are supported by the end blocks of the arch 1, these blocks are specially formed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the: specially formed blocks are designated by the reference character 22. The end of each course of suspended refractory blocks 6 is provided with one of the specially formed blocks 22. These blocks are of the same shape as blocks 6, except that they are provided with horizontal shelf portions or ledges 23 upon which the nose blocks 3 are supported.

End blocks 22 are supported from their upper l within the broad face or surface of the block.

ends by hangers 24, having integral hooks 25 and 26 at their upper ends. Hook 25 is hooked over upstanding lug or boss 21 of main hanger 7' and hook 26 is hooked over a-lip 28 which forms an integral part of a bracket 29 from which a course of refractory tile or blocks in the apron wall 2 are supported. Except for the fact that the hangers 24 have two integral hook portions 25 and 26, they are identical to hooks l5 in other respects; therefore, similarparts of hangers 24 have been designated by the' same reference characters asapplied to the hangers l5.

Before the, nose blocks 3 are mounted in place, the apron wall 2 is constructed. 'I'he apron wall 2 comprises a plurality of vertically extending courses laid up of refractory tile or blocks 6. A specially formed block 22 is utilized as the lowermost block'for these courses. Blocks 6 and the block 22 may embody the interlocking tongue and groove features disclosed in my United States Letters Patent 1,590,303. The' blocks 8 and 22 are supported by means of hangers 30 from the bracket 29 which is secured to the web of the beam 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bracket 29 comprises a wall portion 31 wl'iich is attached to the web of the beam 4 and a vertically extending hanger receiving portion 32 which is provided with a T-shaped slot 33. The portions 31 and 32 are connected by integral horizontal webs 34. These webs are of such length that the portion 32 is so spaced from the beam 4, as to permit proper alinement of the apron wall and the roof arch 1. The bracket may be stiifened and strengthened by arc shaped webs 35 and 36.. The bottom of the T-shaped slot 33 is closed as at 3'7 and is provided with a rearwardly extending lip 28 that is engaged by the hook 26 of hanger 24.

The hangers 30 are illustrated in detail in Figs. 'I and 8 of the drawings. Each of these hangers is provided with a T-shaped back 38 designed to fit into the T-shaped slot 33 in the bracket. A leg 39 of T-shape extends laterally outward from the T-shaped back 38 of each hanger and this T-shaped leg engages in the T-shaped slot formed in the blocks 6 and block 22. Each hanger 30 is provided also with relatively short laterally projecting legs 40 which are received or disposed in grooves in the blocks formed in the faces opposite to those in which the T-shaped grooves are formed.

In constructing the apron wall a hanger 30 is attached to a block 22 and mounted on the bracket 29 with the T-shaped back 38 within the slot 33 thereof. The block is placed so that the shoullder or ledge portion 23 is depending and at substantially right angles to the shoulder portion of the block 22 mounted at the ends of the courses in the arch 1. Hangers 30 are then attached t0 blocks 6 and mounted in place on the bracket 29,

one upon the other. The uppermost block which is supported by bracket 29 is turned so that the tongue projection is uppermost. The two uppermost blocks supported from bracket 29 are smooth on their adjacent faces as at 42 (see Fig. l) A block or tile 6 is then mounted directly upon the uppermost block supported from the bracket and upon this block is placed a block 43.

A series of such vertical courses are laid up in side-by-side relation, as shown in Fig. 2; the blocks of each course being supported by means of the hangers 30 and brackets 29 from the beam 4 until the apron wall of the desired width has been laid up. The brickwork above the apron wall is then laid up in courses with broken joints until the wall has been built to the desired height. A portion of the wall directly above the bracket 29 is supported on flooring 44 carried by the beams which support. the arch roof 1 and the apron wall.

In order that expansion and contraction may take place between the apron wall 2 and the overhead brickwork, an' expansion joint 45 is provided between the block 43 and the brickwork. This joint may be filled with a suitable clay, such as will permit of expansion and contraction, as temperature changes take place in the apron wall.

When the apron wall and the arch roof have been built up in the manner set forth above, the shoulders or ledge portions 23 of the blocks 22 in the apron wall and the arch form a keyway 46. The nose blocks are anchored in this keyway, as will be apparent from the description and the illustration of the nose blocks 3,`as shown in Fig. 5.

The thickness of each nose block shown in Fig. 5 is preferably one-third of the width of the broad faces of the blocks 22 and 6. Therefore, when the blocks shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are mounted within the keyway formed by the shoulder por-l at approximately the center or apex of the quadrant and this portion is provided vwith shoulders or ledges -49 and 50 extending at substantially right angles to each other and to the faces 47 and 46, respectively; Each nose block 50 is provided With a fan shaped depression 51 in one of its broad faces and with a fan shaped tongue 52 on the opposite face, and these tongues and grooves occupy substantially the same position with respect to each other.

When the nose blocks are laid up as shown in Fig. 5, the tongue of one block interlocks with the depression or groove in an adjacent block. The interlocking arrangement afforded by these fan shaped tongues and grooves is effective to prevent fragments, which may break away from these blocks, from falling into the furnace. This feature of the interlocking tongue and groove arrangement is clearly set' forth in my Patent No. 1,590,303.

When the apron wall and the roof arch have been constructed, the nose blocks 3 are picked up manually, held in the position shown in Fig. 5 and then moved into keyway 46. When in place the nose blocks occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, the key portions 48 thereof being in place in the keyway 46.' When in this position the shoulders 49 of the nose blocks rest upon the shoulders of the blocks 22 in the apron wall so that the weight of the nose blocks is carried thereby. The nose blocks are retained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the shoulders 50 which abut against the shoulders or ledges of the blocks 22 in the apron Wall.

It will be apparent that by mounting the nose blocks 3 in the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to be retained in place by the end blocks of the arch or roof 1 and by the lowermost blocks of the apron wall, a simple and inexpensive nose construction is provided whereby an apron wall and an arch or roof may be joined to form a continuous refractory wall structure. Also by virtue of the interlocking fan shaped tongues and grooves of the nose blocks, radiant temperatures 1 vshown in Fig. 1 so as to be in formal communication with the supporting structures of the apron wall and the arch. Water or other cooling fluid may be passed through this conduit to carry away` heat energy which would otherwise be transmit -ted to the supporting structures.

With the form of apron wall and arch disclosed herein, it is possible to employ a single block for joining the adjacent ends of the apron wall and the roof or arch. In the prior art, a plurality of wedge blocks have been employed for forming the nose portions of the furnace walls. By employing blocks such as nose blocks 3, one block is sufficient to join the apron wall to the arch. The construction of the nose is, therefore, materially simplified since one block will close off the opening between the apron wall and the arch and by employing a number of such blocks according to the width of the apron wall and the arch, an efficient, substantial, rugged and inexpensive nose structure may be had.

The form of construction herein shown is also i advantageous in that the metallic supporting elements that carry the refractory tile or blocks in place are shielded from the furnace temperature by the tongue and groove arrangement embodied in the respective blocks. Also, by virtue of the interlocking features of the blocks, spawling is avoided and since broken fragments of the blocks cannot fall away from the apron wall or the arch because of the tongue and groove arrangement, the furnace refractories will last for a very long period of time.

While various modifications and changes may be made in the construction herein shown and described without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims. p

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a beam, of a furnace roof and an apron Wall each separately supported from said beam, and nose blocks closing `the space between the adjacent ends of said roof blocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, a plurality of nose blocks closing the space between the adjacent ends of said roof and wall, the inner ends of said nose blocks being arcshaped and merging with the inner surfaces of said roof and arch, and means on the blocks at the adjacent ends of said roof and wall for supporting and holding said nose blocks in place.

3. The combination with a beam of a furnace arch roof composed of a plurality of refractory blocks supported bytheir upper ends from said beam, avertically extending apron wall composed of a plurality of superposed refractory blocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, a plurality of collaterally arranged nose blocks'closing the space between the adjacent ends of said walls, the inner ends of said nose blocks being arc-shaped and merging with the inner surfaces of said roof and apron wall, and means on the blocks at the adjacent ends of said roof and wall for supporting and holding said nose blocks in place.

4. The combination with a beamof a furnace arch roof composed of a plurality of refractory blocks supported by their upper ends from said beam, the end blocks of the furnace roof adjacent to the apron wall having horizontally extending shelf portions, a vertically extending apron wall composed of a plurality of superposed refractory bocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, the lowermost blocks of said apron wall having depending shoulder portions, and a plurality of nose blocks filling the space between the adjacent ends of the furnace roof and apron Wall, said nose blocks being supported on the shelf portion of the end blocks in the roof arch and retained by the depending shoulders of the lowermost apron Wall blocks.

5. The combination with a beam of e. furnace arch roof composed of a plurality of refractory blocks supported by their upper ends from said beam, the end blocks of the furnace roof adjacent to the apron wall having horizontally extending shelf portions, a vertically extending apron wall composed of a plurality of superposed refractory blocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, the lowermost blocks of said apron wall having depending shoulder` portions, and a plurality of collaterally arranged nose blocks filling the space between the adjacent ends of the furnace roof and apron wall, saidnose blocks being supported on the shelf portions of the end blocks in the roof arch and retained by the depending shoulders of the lowermost apron wall blocks.

6. In combination with a beam, of a bracket secured to said beam, said bracket having a vertically extending leg in which is formed a vertically extending slot of Tshape, hangers disposed in said slot and having tile supporting portions extending outwardly from said bracket leg, and refractory tile carried by each of said tile supporting portions of the hangers to thereby form a suspended vertical wall section.

7. The combination with a beam, of a furnace arch roof composed of a plurality of refractory blocks supported by their upper ends from said beam, the end blocks of the furnace roof adjacent to the apron wall having horizontally extending shelf portions, a verticaly extending apron wall composed of a plurality of superposed refractory blocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, the lowermost blocks of said apron wall having depending shoulder portions, and a plurality of nose blocks filling the space between the adjacent ends of the furnace roof and apron wall, said nose blocks having portions resting on the shelf portions of said roof end blocks and engaging the depending shoulders of the lowermost blocks of the apron wall.

8. The combination with a beam, of a furnace arcn roof composed of a plurality of refractory blocks supported by their upper ends from said beam, the end blocks of the furnace roof adjacent to the apron wall having horizontally extending shelf portions, a vertically 'extending-.apron wall 105 composed of a plurality of superposed'refractory blocks supported by their outer ends from said beam, the lowermost blocks of said apron wall having depending shoulder portions, and a plurality of collaterally arranged nose blocks filling 1'10 the space between the adjacent ends of thefurnace roof and apron wall, said nose blocks having portions resting on the shelf portions of said roof end blocks and engaging the depending shoulders of the lowermost blocks of the apron wall.

9. In combination with a beam, of a vertically extending bracket secured to said beam, said bracket having a vertically extending slot, hangers removably disposed in the slot of said bracket, said hangers having tile supporting portions exe tending outwardly from said bracket, and refractory tile carried by the tile supporting portions of said hangers forming a suspended vertical wall section.

LEVI S. LONGENECKER. 

